Big drill bits

[fatjay]

I'm looking for a set of good oversized drillbit, ¾, ⅞, 1", 1⅛, 1ï½¼,1⅜, 1ï½½. Amazon's got them up to 1" but the reviews aren't great and honestly that's the only place i shop aside from harbor freight and home depot. I'm drilling into ¾" 67 year old steel, the last time i did it, i burned through 2 drills and it took an hour. That was a $40 1" bit.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

I have one of the 1/2"-1" in 64ths that has drilled a lot of holes (all in a drill press or mag drill). It was in the $60 range 7 years ago. I have never seen a set of ones over 1". I buy individual ones as I need them. Up to 1/2" thick stock I use a hole saw or torch. You can spend a lot of money on good drill bits. I have a separate set of 1/16-1/2 in 64ths I use exclusively on the drill press.

Ron

 

[MF RED in MT]

I'm looking for a set of good oversized drillbit, ¾, ⅞, 1", 1⅛, 1ï½¼,1⅜, 1ï½½. Amazon's got them up to 1" but the reviews aren't great and honestly that's the only place i shop aside from harbor freight and home depot. I'm drilling into ¾" 67 year old steel, the last time i did it, i burned through 2 drills and it took an hour. That was a $40 1" bit.

I don't know how many holes you need to drill or if the holes need to be perfectly sized, but I usually use Milwaukee metal hole saws and the green stuff "West Lube" lubricant.

I use slow speeds, medium pressure, lots of the green stuff, and clear the spoils out of the hole as often as necessary while drilling.

I have 5/8" and 3/4" drill bits, and when I need that size hole, I always use a hole saw.

For me, the slightly larger hole that a hole saw makes is ok.

Good Luck, KC

 

[spitter]

depending on how perfect you need hole's plasma or torch is always faster .:drink:

 

[denchen]

I used to work in an agriculture implement factory, and the biggest conventional twist bit we had was a two and half inch. All the bigger ones were taper shaft `Blacksmith` Blacksmith to me means, the drive shaft is smaller than the actual cutting edges.

 

[DIYOrangeDave]

I am an experienced handy man that hasn’t used metal until I purchased my tractor. An early lesson was to use step bits when drilling holes in metal. Once I learn you can’t push your bit through metal everything is working well now. You can pick up step bits at a Canadian Tire almost every other sale for 70% off. The key is to use a 1/8” pilot hole.

 

[kennyd]

I tend to use hole saws for anything 3/4" and above.

Are you drilling free handed or with a press?

 

[fatjay]

I have a few big bits, but no one stocks them so they're all special order. Which means I have to wait for shipping. I have a metal hole saw bit i used once for a 1½" hole but it was a real bear.

I am buying a new bucket for my backhoe and pin sizes may not match, but I don't know what I need yet. I will likely pick up the bucket this weekend, then I'll have to wait for bits to drill, I was just thinking it would be nice to have a few standard sizes on hand.

 

[oosik]

After spending $40+ for one drill bit over 1" - I went to hole saws. Clamp the work well - hole saw and my Milwaukee Hole Hog. Hold the side handle on the "up wind" side or be prepared for some serious shin bumps if the hole saw binds. I really prefer the drill press if the work will fit.

I keep the operation lubed with chain saw oil.

 

[Diggin It]

I'm thinking this is 'tools' rather than 'attachments', but .....

I'll go along with start small and work up, step bit or not. 1/2" bits are lest costly. Use them for pilot holes, then progress to 3/4" or whatever.